For at an apartment with no hose:
(If hose is available: substitute spray bottle, bucket of clean water, and 1 clean microfiber wash rag with Mr. Clean Auto Dry sprayer w/good filter, or other fine filtering, low/medium pressure water spraying device and ignore instructions about the second bucket)
Ingredients/Required Materials:
1 dirty, cooled down FZ-6 (no hot engine or sitting in the sun)
2 clean wash buckets
1 Mr. Clean Auto Dry type sprayer with good filter
1 spray bottle full of cool clean water
4 clean washrags, preferably 3 microfiber and one dishrag type
2 oz. of mild carwash soap
Cool, clean water source (bathtub, sink, etc.)
Your choice of chain wax
Your choice of automotive paint/surface wax, preferably synthetic
Your choice of plastic protectant
5 gallons of sweat-elbow grease concentrate
Time Required: 1 hour or less
Instructions:
-Use sweat-elbow grease concentrate generously
-Find area to wash FZ-6 and put it there on the center stand, remove seat and set aside
-Remove any items from storage area under seat that may be damaged by water or soap and set aside
-Set aside 1 clean microfiber wash rag in a dry, clean area
-Fill wash bucket(s) with cool clean water
-Put 1 clean microfiber washrag in 1st bucket of clean cool water, set aside
-In the 2nd bucket of cool clean water, add 2 oz. carwash soap, 1 clean microfiber washrag, 1 clean dishrag type washrag and mix for 10 seconds
-Optional/as needed, spay entire FZ-6 with cool clean water from spray bottle to pre-wet the surfaces and help loosen dirt or grime, especially in dirty areas
-Remove soapy microfiber washrag and generously wash from the top down the gas tank, moving backwards to the grab rails (these are generally the two cleanest areas on the bike, this is so not to move dirt and grit from another area onto these areas and scratch them), then go back forward to the mirrors instrument cluster, windshield and fairings, obtaining more water and suds from the soapy wash bucket as needed
-Next wash the forks, front fender, and sides of the frame that don’t have chain wax on them
-Now wash the front rim and sides of the tire completely (not the dirt from the ground on the middle of the tire), while pulling upwards on the front most spokes on the rim, rotating the assembly (remember, this is one reason why we used the center stand)
-Don’t forget the headers and non-oily/grimy parts of the engine with this microfiber rag
-Replace microfiber rag in soapy bucket and take out dishrag type soapy rag, wash oily/grimy parts of engine, under-tail, swing arm, rear wheel, and chain using soapy water and sweat-elbow grease concentrate generously removing built up dirt and grime, that’s all you really need since the dishrag is more coarse and removes grime better
-Replace dishrag type washrag in soapy water bucket and retrieve clean washrag out of clean cool water bucket and begin rinse process in similar order to clean process, working from the top down*
-Use clean water spray bottle to help rinse cracks, crevices, and hard to reach areas*
*= Or use Mr. Clean Auto Dry filtered sprayer on the Auto Dry setting to spray off soapy water
-Once FZ-6 is free of soap and only has clean water on it, remove FZ-6 from center stand and put on side stand BE CAREFUL SLIPPERY WHEN WET, notice the large amount of water that spills off, wipe seat off with clean rinse rage
-Let dry 15 minutes (depending on sunlight, temp, etc.)
-Once dry, take dry clean microfiber washrag and get any excess water underneath the fairing, on front fender, bottom edge of tank, etc. also used to remove any harsh water spots before waxing
-Wax glossy painted surfaces as you wish (and I do the side pods and it works well, and the wax can help remove stuck on bugs from the headlights)
-Apply plastic protectant to plastic pieces such as inner fairing pieces and rear hugger
-Put FZ-6 back up on center stand and lube chain while turning rear wheel by hand
-Clean up, replace articles in storage compartment, put seat back on, and enjoy better than showroom floor looking FZ-6
Note: while cleaning, make sure to not just wipe parts with soapy rag, but to touch them with your hands, to make sure nothing has come loose, etc.
This is what I do at least.
